SPark Recommends: Offbeat Travel Destinations

Travel is a source of boundless joy for many, but the pain of finding a new location to explore plays often in the human mind. Everyone knows about the States, or the glory of Europe, but here are some relatively unheard of destinations that would definitely make your holiday memorable:

ALBANIA 

             Albania is a perfect blend of beautiful beaches and majestic mountains. Enthusiasts can try some challenging treks in the Accursed Mountains (Albanian Alps) and also have a glimpse at the local lifestyle by camping with the shepherds and villagers, a practice that is very common among tourists nowadays. A must visit in Albania is the renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint, which houses many Greek and Roman style ruins. This Balkan state used to be restricted for tourists up till not very long ago, but now the country is much more tolerant towards tourism.

MADAGASCAR

The first picture that comes to mind when one thinks of Madagascar is that of playful lemurs and endless grasslands, and this island is truly as picturesque and lively as depicted in the movie.The wildlife on this island off the west coast of Africa is completely endemic, which makes it a haven for wildlife enthusiasts.Apart from this, Madagascar is renowned for its beaches, culture and history.Customized tours inspired by the movie series are rapidly gaining popularity among tourists of late.

BOLIVIA

Bolivia is often overlooked in the tourism sector in favour of neighbouring countries such as Brazil, Chile and Argentina because of visa issues, but leaving that fact aside, it is one of the  unearthed gems of South America.Bolivia is home to one of the most spectacular creations of nature, the Salar de Uyuni. The Salar is an expanse of salt flats set amidst the backdrop of motley mountains and chromatic lakes. This region of pastel coloured barren lands is the most popular tourist destination in Bolivia, and worth a visit for their sheer scale of existence.Other popular tourist attractions in Bolivia are La Paz, the world’s highest capital city, Lake Titicaca, and the cocaine cultivation in the Bolivian jungle.

SAMOA

Samoa isn’t known for much except being one of the first countries to hit the New Year, but it happens to be an intriguing paradisiacal paradox, with emerald beaches and volcanoes to be found not too far away from each other.The quintessential beachfront destination, Samoa is blessed with iridescent seas, jade jungles, crystal waterfalls, and most importantly, uncongested white sand beaches which offer a great atmosphere to unwind and relax.Some of the popular spots on this tiny island are Namu’a Island, Aleipata’s Beaches and Apia.

PERU

Peru is another one of the lesser explored South American nations, but do not let this deter you from planning a visit here, as it is host to some of Earth’s truly mind blowing structures.Where else to begin but the world renowned Machu Picchu. The heritage city is the crown jewel in the history of the Inca civilization and offers some breathtaking views of the Andes ranges.Another very unique piece of beauty in Peru is the Nazca Lines, a group of very large geoglyphs stretching for miles across the Peruvian desert. Meaningless from the ground, the lines come alive when viewed from a good height and transform into beautifully manicured shapes and designs.

There are countless other unexplored destinations in various nooks and corners of the world which if properly developed, would surely open the doors for more variety in travel, thus making travel not only a one-off thing, but a part of our lifestyle, a prospect we cannot relish enough.